UNROLL
Sunrise over the tabernacle court: the colored gate screen and white linen hangings catch the first gold light across swept sand, a thin thread of smoke rising inside, dark tents low at the edges.

The Book of

Leviticus 9

Day eight. The new priests offer for the first time, and the whole people stand waiting for the LORD to appear, as He promised.

24 verses≈ 5 min2 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–7The offeringsHow sinners draw near
  2. 8–10The priestsOrdained, and a warningChapter 9
  3. 11–15Clean and uncleanLife before a holy God
  4. 16The Day of AtonementSins carried away
  5. 17–27A holy peopleBe holy, for I am holy

Aaron’s First Offerings

On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel.

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At dawn by the gate of the tabernacle court, a young bull, two rams, a male goat, a calf, a lamb and an ox stand tethered on the sand beside a clay bowl of flour mixed with oil.

What to bring

For today the LORD will appear

  1. For Aaron

    A young bull and a ram

    He said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and present them before the LORD.

  2. For the people

    A goat, a calf, and a lamb

    Then speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without blemish—for a burnt offering,

  3. An ox, a ram, and grain with oil

    an ox and a ram for a peace offering to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil.

  4. The promise

    Today the LORD will appear

    For today the LORD will appear to you.’”

Seen from behind and above, a vast crowd of Israelites in plain wool stands quietly before the white linen court and its open gate in morning light, the dark tent beyond.

So they took what Moses had commanded to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and the whole congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. And Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.”

0:14

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Then Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering to make atonement for yourself and for the people. And sacrifice the people’s offering to make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.”

Courtyard · 100 × 50 cubitsNGate · EastTent of MeetingBronze altarBasinThe tent, enlarged · 30 × 10 cubitsArkTableLampstandIncense altarVeilScreenMost Holy PlaceHoly Place

Plan to scale in cubits · north at the top

Where they stood

Before the LORD

The people brought everything “to the front of the Tent of Meeting” and “stood before the LORD,” the crowd filling the ground before the court’s gate. Inside the court Aaron served at the bronze altar, before the tent’s entrance. Only at the end did “Moses and Aaron then entered the Tent of Meeting,” and they came out again to bless the people.

Reflect

Waiting for God to come

Israel did everything God commanded, and stood before the tent to wait, “so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.” They could not make God come. They could only come His way and wait for Him. Where do you most need to see God at work right now? Write it down, and ask Him to show Himself there in His way and His time.

Aaron then presented the people’s offering. He took the male goat for the people’s sin offering, slaughtered it, and offered it for sin like the first one.

He presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the ordinance.

Next he presented the grain offering, took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning’s burnt offering.

Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram as the people’s peace offering. His sons brought him the blood, and he splattered it on all sides of the altar.

They also brought the fat portions from the ox and the ram—the fat tail, the fat covering the entrails, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver— and placed these on the breasts. Aaron burned the fat portions on the altar, but he waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses had commanded.

Pray

A Priest who needs nothing for Himself

Aaron’s first offering was for his own sin. Only then could he offer for the people. Jesus never needed that. He is holy, and He offered Himself once for everyone who comes to God through Him. Thank Him that He is that kind of priest. Thank Him that through His blood you have peace with God and a place at His table.

Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having made the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering, he stepped down.

Moses and Aaron then entered the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.

Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Question

Quick question

Moses had promised that the glory of the LORD would appear. Then it did.

What happened on the altar when the glory of the LORD appeared to the people?

Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Leviticus 9:24

You’ve experienced

Leviticus 9

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A verse to carry with you

Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Leviticus 9:24

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